Kiwi nurse awaits results of second Ebola test

Bronwyn McBain had recently returned from her West Africa posting and became unwell on Friday.

The Gore nurse at the centre of New Zealand's first Ebola scare is awaiting the results of a second test to clear her of the deadly disease.

First results cleared the woman - widely reported to be Gore nurse Bronni McBain - of the disease yesterday, however, a second test was required to confirm the result, Health Minister Jonathan Coleman said.

"We should have the results of the second test within 48 hours," he said yesterday.

Mrs McBain recently returned from Sierra Leone, where she was caring for those suffering from the virus.

The only person to have contact with Mrs McBain during the infectious period was her husband, who was self-monitoring as a precaution.

Neighbours of the McBains in Ruia St, Gore, were woken by sound of a helicopter arriving early on Saturday morning.

Mrs McBain walked to the helicopter and was transported to Christchurch Hospital in a specialist iso-pod patient transfer unit accompanied by health care workers in protective suits.

Dr Coleman said that Mrs McBain was in a stable condition in the hospital.

"The patient ... will remain in one of Christchurch Hospital's dedicated specialist medical isolation rooms until the result of the second test is known," he said.

A neighbour - who wished to remain anonymous - said his family was woken by the helicopter landing in the street. He had no concerns about the potential scare and was impressed by Mrs McBain's work overseas.

Another neighbour said "everybody is definitely impressed" by the nurse's selfless spirit.

Mrs McBain previously helped in a tsunami ravaged region of Sumatra in 2005 and spent time nursing in Vanuatu in 2004 at her own cost.